Cherry Valley Turnpike - Definition and Overview

The Cherry Valley Turnpike (also known as the Third Great Western Turnpike) was an historic East-West toll road in Central New York State. The present U.S. Route 20 follows much of its path though the region.

The turnpike ran west from Cherry Valley in eastern Otsego County through Cazenovia in western Madison County and eventually on to Skaneateles at the outlet of Skaneateles Lake in western Onondaga County. Cherry Valley was already connected to Albany by the First Great Western Turnpike.

The leaders of newly founded Cazenovia (founded in 1793) were instrumental in getting the state legislature to incorporate the "The Third Great Western Turnpike Company" to extend turnpikes currently running from Cherry Valley to Manlius Square. The road was built in 1803.